The Essex Crossing development project will be bringing 1,000 new apartments and many new commercial businesses to the former Seward Park urban renewal site. But in the short term, it also means the loss of hundreds of parking spaces. In the past several days, people who use the Suffolk Street Parking facility saw the first signs of the looming changes. A notice went up just inside the entryway announcing the closure of the parking lot on December 31 and thanking customers “for all the years of loyalty and patronage.”
The independently-run facility, which provides parking spaces for 90 cars, sits on Site 5 of the 1.9 million square foot Essex Crossing site. The parcel also includes a former fire house and two tenements. Plans for the site call for a building containing 200 apartments, a full-service grocery store, as well as a 15,000 square foot park and, possibly, a new public school. Demolition could begin any day now.
There are a total of about 500 parking spaces on various development parcels within the Seward Park project. The city-approved land use plan indicated that those spaces could be replaced with underground parking. At least in public, however, the development team has not indicated how much parking they plan to provide.
A second parking lot, located at Ludlow and Broome streets, is also part of the first phase of construction. No closing date as of yet for that facility, which has 65 spaces.
This past summer, Suffolk Parking owner Marci Schochet said the business had been in her husband’s family for decades. He passed away in the last year.
so? Any ideas about where those of us who park in that lot can go? What’s the deal with the removal of the muni meter on Grand between Suffolk and Norfolk?
parking can be had near the river south of east river park. its not as convenient.
Open lot on Pier 42 (at the end of Montgomery Street), although it may be at capacity and will eventually go away once the Pier 42 park gets built.
Municipal garage on Essex just above Delancey, although I believe it has a waiting list.
Garage at Columbia and Delancey.
Garage on Allen at Grand.
All three of Zipcar, Hertz247 and EnterpriseCarShare also have cars in the neighborhood if you can live without your own wheels.
Anybody know why the sign says 1938-2014? Has there been a parking lot on that location since 1938? I thought there were tenaments there…
This article mentions that there will be a “full service grocery store.” This will be a great spot for a Trader Joe’s. I went on their website and clicked on the link to request a store in my neighborhood. Maybe if enough people request a store for the Lower Eastside, we will get one. If you agree PLEASE go to the Trader Joe’s website and submit a request. Tell your friends and neighbors. That way we don’t have to deal with the rude, nasty cashiers in Fine Fare. Let’s get this done! We deserve a better store and healthier food choices!